When 'Umar fell under the assassin's dagger, before he diedthe people
asked him to nominate his successor. 'Umar appointed a committee
consisting of six of the ten companions of the Prophet (peace be on
him) about whom the Prophet had said, "They are the people of Heaven"
- Ali, Uthman, Abdul Rahman, Sa'ad, Al-Zubayr and Talha - to select
thenext Caliph from among themselves. He also outlined the procedure
to be followed if any differences of opinion should arise. Abdul
Rahman withdrew his name. He was then authorized by the committee to
nominate the Caliph. After two days of discussion among the candidates
and after the opinions of the Muslims in Medina had been ascertained,
the choice was finally limited to Uthman and Ali. Abdul Rahman came to
the mosque together with other Muslims, and after a brief speech and
questioning of the two men, swore allegiance toUthman. All those
present did thesame, and Uthman became the third Caliph of Islam in
the monthof Muharram, 24 A.H.
Uthman's Life
Uthman bin Affan was born seven years after the Holy Prophet (peace be
on him). He belonged to the Omayyad branchof the Quraish tribe. He
learned to read and write at an early age,and as a young man became a
successful merchant. Even beforeIslam Uthman had been noted for his
truthfulness and integrity. He and Abu Bakr were close friends, and it
was Abu Bakr whobrought him to Islam when he was thirty-four years of
age. Some years later he married the Prophet's second daughter,
Ruqayya. In spite of his wealth and position, his relatives subjected
him to torture becausehe had embraced Islam, and he was forced to
emigrate to Abyssinia. Some time later he returned to Mecca but soon
migrated to Medina with the other Muslims. In Medina his business
again began to flourish and he regained his former prosperity.
Uthman's generosity had no limits. On various occasions he spent a
great portion of his wealth for the welfare of the Muslims, for
charity and for equipping the Muslim armies. That is why he came to be
known as 'Ghani' meaning 'Generous.'
Uthman's wife, Ruqayya was seriously ill just before the Battle of
Badr and he was excused by the Prophet (peace be on him) from
participating in the battle. The illness Ruqayya proved fatal, leaving
Uthman deeply grieved. The Prophet was moved and offered Uthman the
hand of another of his daughters, Kulthum. Because he had the high
privilege of having two daughters of the Prophet as wives Uthman was
known as 'The Possessor of the Two Lights.'
Uthman participated in the Battles of Uhud and the Trench. After the
encounter of the Trench, the Prophet (peace be onhim) determined to
perform Hajj and sent Uthman as his emissary to the Quraish in Mecca,
who detained him. The episode endedin a treaty with the Meccans known
as the Treaty of Hudaibiya.
The portrait we have of Uthman is of an unassuming, honest, mild,
generous and very kindly man, noted especially for his modesty and his
piety. He often spent part of the night in prayer, fasted every second
or third day, performed hajj every year, and looked after the needy of
the whole community. In spite of his wealth, he lived very simply and
slept on bare sand in the courtyard of the Prophet's mosque. Uthman
knew the Qur'an from memory and had an intimate knowledge of the
context and circumstances relating to each verse.
Uthman's Caliphate
During Uthman's rule the characteristics of Abu Bakr's and Umar's
caliphates - impartial justice for all, mild and humane policies,
striving in the path of God, and the expansion of Islam -continued.
Uthman's realm extended in the west to Morocco,in the east to
Afghanistan, and inthe north to Armenia and Azerbaijan. During his
caliphate anavy was organized, administrative divisions of the state
were revised, and many public projects were expanded and completed.
Uthman sent prominent Companions of the Prophet (peace be on him) as
his personal deputies to various provinces to scrutinize the conduct
of officials and the condition of the people.
Uthman's most notable contribution to the religion of God was the
compilation of a complete and authoritative text of the Qur'an. A
large number of copies of this text were made and distributed all over
the Muslim world.
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